Fortified food help combat malnutrition, say experts

LAHORE:As robust legislation and regulatory frameworks are essential for food fortification initiatives to be successful and sustainable, Punjab lags behind other provinces in enactment of legislation in this regard.

Pakistan has demonstrated strong leadership in institutionalising food fortification by enacting laws across provinces such as Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. This proactive approach has led to increased governance for food fortification, ensuring better compliance, quality control, and long-term impact. Punjab, however, remains the only province yet to enact legislation. The efforts, however, are under way to introduce similar laws, which will further improve access to fortified foods and address micronutrient deficiencies across the province.

‘The food fortification - the process of adding essential vitamins and minerals to staple foods - is a proven, scalable, and sustainable solution to tackle micronutrient deficiencies on a large scale, especially in low-income populations,’ say nutrition experts at a media briefing on ‘Food fortification: A low-cost, high-impact solution to combat malnutrition’ organised by Nutrition International here at a local hotel on Thursday.

The food fortification is an effective and affordable intervention to combat micronutrient malnutrition. The experts informed that Punjab province, which accounts for over half of Pakistan's population, faces a severe public health challenge due to malnutrition crisis. According to the National Nutrition Survey 2018, 36.4% of children below five years are affected by stunting, and 15.3% of these children suffer from wasting. The survey also reveals that 52% of children are affected by anaemia, 49% are vitamin A deficient, and 70.7% lack sufficient vitamin D. Among women of reproductive age, 41% suffer from anaemia, 25% are vitamin A deficient, and a staggering 80.5% are found to be vitamin D deficient.

Zameer Haider, National Programme Manager at Nutrition International, said that micronutrient deficiency, or ‘hidden hunger’, occurs when people lack essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron, iodine, vitamin A, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin D. Unlike protein-energy malnutrition, these deficiencies often go unnoticed yet have a substantial impact on the health and well-being of individuals. These deficiencies disproportionately affect children and women, leading to a cascade of negative consequences. They hinder children's physical and cognitive development, reduce educational attainment and productivity in adults, and exacerbate health disparities. Consequently, he said, the malnutrition crisis not only threatens individual well-being but also hinders economic development and undermines the social fabric of communities.

Failing to address malnutrition has serious socio-economic consequences for Pakistan. According to the Cost of Inaction Tool, developed by Nutrition International, the economic burden of malnutrition is estimated at over $17 billion annually due to productivity losses, healthcare costs, and reduced cognitive potential in children.

It casts negative impact on children and women of reproductive age. The malnourished children have lower IQs, poor academic performance, and increased susceptibility to chronic diseases, contributing to intergenerational poverty. In women of reproductive age, the malnutrition leads to pregnancy complications, maternal mortality, and low birth weight, increasing infant mortality and developmental delays. The malnutrition has serious economic consequences as it affects GDP growth owing to reduced workforce productivity.